Terrico Appointed To Board Disney Worker Named To District 1 Vacancy

KISSIMMEE — The manager of security at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and resorts was appointed Monday to fill the vacancy of Osceola County Planning Commissioner Billy Rocker.

Martin E. ''Gene'' Terrico, a Disney employee since 1971 with a long record of local civic involvement, was appointed to the District 1 vacancy by County Commission Chairman Charles Owen.

''I think he'll do a fine job,'' Owen said.

Rocker was forced to resign June 7 after a spate of negative publicity regarding his vote to change the land-use classification on a 1,500-acre tract near Alligator Lake.

The vote would have allowed property owners to submit rezoning applications for twice the number of homes currently permitted per acre. Rocker, it was revealed later, had an option to purchase a 68-acre tract in the area and closed the deal eight days after he cast the deciding vote.

Owen originally backed Rocker, saying the vote did not pose a conflict of interest. But the next day, he demanded Rocker's resignation after press reports revealed that Rocker didn't live in the district he supposedly represented.

Rocker lives in Shadow Bay in Kissimmee, which is in District 2, but had claimed his former business on U.S. Highway 192, in District 1, as his residence.

Owen apparently made sure that Terrico would not repeat Rocker's location identity problem. Terrico lives on Lake Cecile Drive, the same street as Owen.

The planning commission, made up of two appointees by each of the five county commissioners, hears all zoning, planning and land-use requests and makes recommendations to commissioners, who have final approval.